Young Sheffield couple ran through fire to escape burning home - weeks after moving in

Toni Batham and her partner Rylan Cranmer, both 23, were asleep when a fire set in the garden of the house next door spread to their home.

The couple, who only moved into the terraced house on Hollinsend Road, Intake, 11 weeks earlier, had to run through flames to escape from their burning home.

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Hairdresser Toni said they were lucky to survive.

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She said the pair ended up trapped in the rear garden of their home as their porch and kitchen went up in flames, filling their entire home with smoke.

Although the couple were insured, their policy will not cover the value of everything they lost.

A friend has set up a crowdfunding appeal to help Toni and joiner Rylan fund the repairs and replace some of their damaged contents.

Toni said: “I could hear what sounded like torrential rain on the porch but when I looked outside it wasn’t raining. Then as I came down the stairs I could see the fire.

“Our sofa blocks off the front door in the lounge so the only way out was through the burning porch.

“Literally seconds after we got out all the glass began to pop with the heat and the flames were up the gennel at the side of the house too.

“We were trapped in the back garden with black smoke all around us and all we could do was scream for help as we watched our house burn.

“I’ve never felt so helpless but so fortunate because we could have been killed if we had discovered the fire any later.”

She said it was ‘heartbreaking and devastating’ to see their first home together on fire.

But Toni said they are ‘overwhelmed’ at the amount of support offered to help them restore their home.

So, far over £2,190 has been donated and the couple have been inundated with offers of help.

A police investigation into the incident is under way and two arrests have been made.

To help the Toni and Rylan, visit the Go Fund Me website to donate.

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